Managing Director, Head of AI Operational Architecture & Integration

We are seeking a visionary and execution-oriented leader to serve as the Head of AI Integration & Operational Architecture. This role will own the design, integration, and operational architecture of the enterprise's AI ecosystem—ensuring that AI capabilities are stable, scalable, and resilient. 

This leader will act as the system-level architect and integrator of AI across the enterprise, partnering closely with AI Engineering, Data, and AI Operations teams to enable AI at scale. The role sits at the intersection of platform architecture, product thinking, and operational reliability, transforming fragmented AI initiatives into a cohesive, enterprise-grade capability.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

1. Enterprise AI Ecosystem Integration 

• Influence and maintain the end-to-end architecture of the AI ecosystem, including models, agents, orchestration layers, data pipelines, and platforms 

• Enforce integration patterns and standards across internal systems and third-party AI tools 

• Rationalize and streamline the AI stack to eliminate duplication and fragmentation 

2. Operational Architecture for AI Systems 

• Architect how AI systems operate in production environments at scale 

• Design for fault tolerance, graceful degradation, and human-in-the-loop workflows 

• Influence patterns for multi-model orchestration, routing, and fallback strategies 

3. AI Platform Resilience & Reliability 

• Define SLA/SLO frameworks for AI systems in partnership with AI Operations 

• Architect solutions for high availability, Disaster Recovery, performance, and failure containment 

• Partner with AI Ops on incident response models, runbooks, and recovery strategies 

 
4. Influence AI Lifecycle & Deployment Architecture (AIDLC & Permit to Operate) 

Define standards for model and AI capability lifecycle management, including: 

• Versioning and release management 

• A/B testing and canary deployments 

• Rollback and fail-safe mechanisms 

• Drive consistency across teams building AI solutions 
   

5. Strategic Partnership with Technology Operations 

• Establish clear separation of responsibilities: 
                   This role: architecture, integration, standards 
                  AI Ops: execution, monitoring, incident management 

• Ensure seamless collaboration to deliver reliable, enterprise-grade AI systems 

• Product Management for Observability, Monitoring & Telemetry including establishing enterprise-wide standards for AI observability 

6. Enterprise Leadership & Influence 

• Serve as the central authority on AI integration and operational architecture 

• Influence senior stakeholders across Technology, Data, Risk, and Business units 

• Drive alignment and adoption of enterprise AI standards

Educational Requirements

• University (Degree) Preferred

Work Experience

• 10+ Years Required

Career Level
11PL

10+ years in technology leadership roles, with deep experience in: 
   •    Distributed systems architecture 
  •    Platform engineering or SRE 
  •    AI/ML systems at scale 
  •    Proven track record of building and operating complex, enterprise platforms 
  •    Integrating third-party and in-house AI/ML solutions

12–15+ years in technology leadership roles, with deep experience in: 
    •    Distributed systems architecture 
    •    Platform engineering or SRE 
    •    AI/ML systems at scale 
    •    Proven track record of building and operating complex, enterprise platforms 
    •    Integrating third-party and in-house AI/ML solutions 
 
Technical Expertise 
 Strong understanding of: 

• AI/ML ecosystems (LLMs, agents, pipelines) 

• Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) 

• Data engineering and real-time architectures 

Familiarity with: 

• MLOps / LLMOps frameworks 

• Observability and monitoring tools 

• API-driven and microservices architectures 

Leadership & Mindset 

• Systems thinker with the ability to operate at enterprise scale and complexity 

• Strong product mindset—treating AI capabilities as platforms, not projects 

• Ability to influence without authority across federated teams 

• Balance of strategic vision and hands-on execution 

What Success Looks Like 

• A unified, well-integrated AI ecosystem across the enterprise 

• Improved reliability, scalability, and performance for AI systems 

• Reduced tool fragmentation and vendor sprawl 

• Faster, safer deployment of AI capabilities 

• Strong partnership with AI Ops, with clear accountability and no overlap 

Related Skills

Application Programming Interface (API) Development/Integration, Cloud Platforms, Data Management, Domain-Driven Design, Enterprise Application Integration, Enterprise Architecture, Influence, Innovation, Problem Solving, Scalability/Reliability, Software as a Service (SaaS), Software Development, Strategic Planning, Systems Design/Analysis

Anticipated Posting End Date:

2026-08-10

Base Pay Range: $232,000/yr - $290,000/yr

Actual base salary may vary based upon, but not limited to, relevant experience, time in role, base salary of internal peers, prior performance, business sector, and geographic location.  In addition to base salary, the competitive compensation package may include, depending on the role, participation in an incentive program linked to performance (for example, annual discretionary incentive programs, non-annual sales incentive plans, or other non-annual incentive plans). 

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Company Overview

Every worker deserves a secure retirement. For more than 100 years, TIAA has delivered it for millions of people. Founded to help educators retire with dignity, today weʼre a market-leading retirement company fueled by world-class asset management. But weʼre not just another legacy financial services firm. Weʼre fighting harder than ever before for our clients and the many Americans who need us.

Our Culture of Impact

At TIAA, we're on a mission to build on our 100+ year legacy of delivering for our clients while evolving to meet tomorrow's challenges. We equip our associates with future-focused skills and AI tools that enable us to advance our mission. Together, we are fighting to ensure a more secure financial future for all and for generations to come. We are guided by our values: Champion Our People, Be Client Obsessed, Lead with Integrity, Own It, and Win As One. They influence every decision we make and how we work together to serve our clients every day. We thrive in a collaborative in-office environment where teams work across organizational boundaries with shared purpose, accelerating innovation and delivering meaningful results. Our workplace brings together TIAA and Nuveen's entrepreneurial spirit, where we work hard and work together to create lasting impact. Here, every associate can grow through meaningful learning experiences and development pathways—because when our people succeed, our impact on clients' lives grows stronger.

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The organization is committed to making financial well-being possible for its clients, and is equally committed to the well-being of our associates. That’s why we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package designed to make a positive difference in the lives of our associates and their loved ones. Our benefits include a superior retirement program and highly competitive health, wellness and work life offerings that can help you achieve and maintain your best possible physical, emotional and financial well-being. To learn more about your benefits, please review our Benefits Summary.

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If you are a U.S. applicant and desire a reasonable accommodation to complete a job application please use one of the below options to contact our accessibility support team: 

Phone: (800) 842-2755

Email: [email protected]

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